VIC weekly sheep summary
10 February 2012
Increased numbers
There were slightly more lambs available at most of MLA’s NLRS reported markets with yardings at Ballarat and Bendigo up 5%. Hamilton however experienced a 9% decline in lambs offered compared to the large sale last week. Overall producers appeared willing to accept the lower prices in order to move stock off farms after having experienced prolonged periods of hot dry weather.
There was a good quality supply of trade and heavy weight lambs across markets however extra heavy weights were not as abundant. There were also plenty of plainer light and extra light lambs which had dropped back in condition as a result of recent hot weather.
Most of the usual local, supermarket, trade, feedlot and export buyers were present across the markets however competition was not as lively. In light of recent conditions there were few eager to restock, which sent prices for restocker lambs into decline. Despite the general good quality offered trade lamb prices also reduced however not to the same degree as the other classes.
The high A$ hindered export processors, who have became more selective in their purchases causing prices for extra heavy lambs to face the steepest decline.
The supply of sheep more than double at Ballarat and Bendigo, while Hamilton yarded a smaller increase of 50%. There was an increase in the amount of good woolly Merino ewes. The usual buyers attended the markets however demand from all sectors was weak, especially for the light and extra light ewes.
Lack of demand
Prices for lamb reduced across the board due to a variety of factors. The light 2 score lambs to restockers sold mainly from $70 to $80 to be $4/head cheaper. The light 3 score lambs to slaughter sold from 406¢ to 488¢ to average 463¢ cwt. The light trade 3 score lambs to slaughter dominated the yarding and sold for 420¢ to 519¢ to mostly sell closer to 466¢ cwt. The heavy trade 3 score lambs were between 410¢ and 519¢ to average 466¢ cwt. The heavy 4 score lambs returned 114¢ to 130¢ to average 123¢ cwt. The extra heavy 4 score lambs made from 124¢ to 149¢ to settle at 136¢cwt.
Weak demand meant that sheep prices across all markets decreased. The light and extra light sheep at Hamilton despite having good skins struggled to find buyers, selling for as low as $5/head. The extra light ewes topped at $55 with the average price of $30/head. The medium Merino ewes sold between $35 and 83$ and overall were down $14/head. The heavy first cross ewes ranged from $65 to $77 to be down $7/head or to average 234¢ cwt.
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